2 minute read
SupertramLink bus to be withdrawn
MP Calls to Save Supertram Bus Link
Miriam Cates, the MP for Penistone and Stocksbridge, has called for urgent action to save the SL1 and SL1a SupertramLink buses that serve communities in the Upper Don Valley.
Having recently persuaded the Government to commit to £130 million of COVID bus recovery funding, Mrs Cates wants some of this money to be used to subsidise these routes which Stagecoach has proposed to withdraw from October.
She has written to the Mayor of South Yorkshire, Oliver Coppard, who is responsible for overseeing and funding our local transport network, calling on him to use part of South Yorkshire's allocation to keep the SL1 and SL1a buses running.
Miriam Cates said "It's extremely disappointing that Stagecoach Yorkshire are proposing to remove SupertramLink bus services entirely from October. I'm completely opposed to the withdrawal of these routes, which provide vital connectivity for residents of the Upper Don Valley.
"Many residents have written to me to share their concern about the decline in SupertramLink bus services, noting that buses have become increasingly infrequent, sometimes not turning up at all.
"This is unacceptable, and the funding that I lobbied over the summer to secure for local bus services must now be used to keep these routes running.
"I'm calling on the Mayor of South Yorkshire to use his powers over public transport to subsidise the SupertramLink beyond October whilst a wider assessment of passenger demand and services can be undertaken.
"Bus services are an essential part of our local transport network and there are no other transport options available for many locals. That's why we must use the extra funding I secured to support routes like the SL1 and SL1a."
Stagecoach plans to replace the service with an increase of the 57 buses every half hour.
Local residents had their say on proposals
Concerned Mother, Oughtibridge
Georgina S
